The Upper James 



The house has distinction. This comes partly from its paneled 

 walls, witnessing to the good taste and knowledge of the builders — 

 long since dead — who placed them there. The two wings, each a 

 complete house, are held together by the long, wide hall originally 

 intended as the ballroom. This hall is one of the features of the 

 house, which, with its exits upon both ends and sides, may properly 

 be called four-fronted. The interior, with its large, square rooms, 

 engaged the attention of the first artisans of the country; the 

 mantels and hand-carved stairway are particularly interesting. 



All over the house the woodwork is elaborate and exceedingly 

 good. The paneled rooms show refined cornices, while the graceful 

 north stair is of particular note, along with the beautiful treatment 

 of the newel post at its foot. Black walnut, mahogany and heart 

 pine are the woods used. 



The splendid paneled dining-room still speaks of the presence 

 of century-dead masters. The sunbeams that steal in through the 

 opalescent window panes light up the names and dates thereon as 

 far back as 1779. The H and L-H hinges; the heavy brass locks 

 and huge door keys; the iron locks showing the English coat-of- 

 arms in brass; the personal reminders of Thomas Jefferson who 

 lived here as a boy — these are among the many things that make 

 this house as interesting as any in America. 



Straight through the hall — from river to road — a vista ends 

 down the cedar-bound lane and stretches its length into the house 

 and out over flights of well-worn stone steps. These steps now 

 present almost a dilapidated appearance, and suggest an indifference 

 on the part of the owners, but they are really carefully left that 

 way in respect to their great age. And, as if in a like appreciation 

 of this same age, wherever possible, the mossy crevices are filled 

 with violets and ferns. 



The exterior of the house is unique. Begun, apparently, as a 

 brick building, the south wing has both ends well laid in Flemish 

 bond, as if the change to a frame construction came after these 

 were built. The north wing is all frame. 



[115] 



